A real paycheck engine using 2026 brackets, the Social Security wage base, and FICA — not a flat-rate estimate. Configure your plan once and see what every lever does to your take-home and your long-term wealth.
Your situation
Start here. Everything downstream uses these.
$
4.4%
Flat rate. Common: CO 4.4% · TX/FL/WA/NV 0% · CA up to ~13.3% · NY ~6.85% + NYC.
401(k) contribution
2026 employee cap is $24,500. Pre-tax lowers your income tax now; Roth doesn't, but grows tax-free.
6%
17.5%
$
I'll find the highest contribution that still leaves you this much per paycheck.
7%
ESPP module
Qualified §423 plans let you buy at a discount, capped at $25k of stock/year. Selling at purchase locks the discount as a near-guaranteed return.
10%
Most plans allow 1–15%. Contributions are after-tax (they reduce your paycheck).
15%
15% is the legal max and the most common. A lookback only makes this better — the figures below show the guaranteed floor.
RSU module
RSUs are ordinary income at vest and are usually withheld at a flat 22% — often short of your real rate.
$
22%
Default supplemental rate is 22% (37% above $1M). If your real marginal rate is higher, the gap is owed at filing.
Your take-home
Salary paycheck only — equity is summarized separately below.